Mercedes, Audi enjoy record sales in 2013

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A range of Mercedes and Smart cars is presented by CEO of Daimler AG Dieter Zetsche during the Mercedes-Benz Media Night at the 65th Frankfurt Auto Show in Frankfurt, Germany, Monday, Sept. 9, 2013. More than 1,000 exhibitors will show their products to the public from Sept. 12 through Sept.22, 2013. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) - German luxury car makers Mercedes-Benz and Audi enjoyed record sales last year, boosted by rising demand in the United States and China.

Mercedes-Benz, which is based in Stuttgart and owned by Daimler AG, said Friday that it sold 1.462 million cars last year worldwide, an increase of 10.7 percent. Sales in the U.S., the company's largest single market, grew 14 percent to 312,534. Yet they were off 2.2 percent in Germany.

Business was boosted by the launch of new versions of the E-class and S-Class sedans. Sales of small cars such as the A-Class, B-Class and CLA coupe also did well, jumping 64 percent.

The brand said it also had its best-ever December, with sales up 11.2 percent at 139,180.

Mercedes' competitor Audi, the luxury brand of Volkswagen AG, released similarly impressive figures late Thursday. It sold a company record 1.575 million cars in 2013.

Sales jumped 21 percent in China, 13.5 percent in the U.S. and 15 percent in the U.K.